SuperMax 19-38

[Izzy Charo]

I posted a few days ago asking for opinions on the Woodmaster 26 inch drum sander...and folks seem to really like it. Before pulling the trigger, I'd like to know if any of the potential alternatives, like a new Supermax 19-38, have solved the issues I'm having with my 10-15 year old Jet 16-32 drum sander. Specifically, keeping the sanding drum parallel with the conveyor belt, and the pesky clip on the motor end for the paper. Just wondering if my old drum sander is a relic, and the newer version of it actually works well... I realize the Woodmaster is in a different league, but shipping and delivery to my shop will be difficult.
Thanks for all responses,
Izzy Charo

[glenn bradley]

I guess I can only echo the reviews I read way back when. My experience since I bought mine in 2013 is as follows: the Supermax solves all those things that kept me from buying a drum sander . . . Table to drum alignment was spot on from the box and is easily adjusted. Dust collection is excellent despite being only one 4" port. Runs on 120v power. Oversize adjustments via the built in lever tilt are great. Paper changes are easy and reliable. I made my own "TufTool" from a bent piece of 1/8" steel rod which is helpful but not absolutely necessary.

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In short it is all the things the Performax series should have been. I've been using it nearly daily for nearly a decade with no issues. Obviously I bought mine pre-Laguna takeover but imagine the machine retains its integrity. The newer, fancier, 16-32 has had some issues but I believe they have worked through them.

Losing the stand in favor of a base cabinet allows greater stability and storage options.

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[Alan Kalker]

I've had the Supermax 25-50 for about a year. It presumably works the same but is just a bit bigger. Overall I'm happy with it. The drum is mostly parallel, not perfect but enough that I don't feel a compelling reason to fuss with it. The paper, after a short learning period, is easy to put on. It sands slower than I would like and you need to be careful how much you try to take off at once, especially with a finer paper. But that is probably true of any sanders. It is used MUCH more than I expected. Pretty much every project. So overall, it is a very good product.

[Izzy Charo]

Glenn, Thanks for the thorough review, and I do like your cabinet! Just to clarify, it sounds like you may have had an older Performax/Jet drum sander in the past....and you believe the new Supermax is indeed better at keeping the sanding head parallel with the conveyor belt? I find myself constantly having to re-adjust my older Jet 16-32.

[Keith Pitman]

I just purchased and set up mine. It was easy to assemble. Mine needed some slight adjustments after assembly, but they were easy to do. I’ve run some test samples through the sander and they went well. I have a project coming up which will put it to a more rigorous test. So far the sander gets my endorsement.

[Zachary Hoyt]

I bought a 19-38 in 2018 and it has been great. The clip is not hard to use after the first few times getting used to it. I haven't used the older ones to compare. I had to adjust mine a slight amount to get it parallel but it's stayed good after that, even through the process of being loaded up a ramp onto a bus, jostled around with a lot of other tools and supplies and rolled down onto the ground and up into the shop. Working by myself some of those transitions were bumpier and more abrupt than I would have preferred, but it did fine through it all. I would be lost without mine now, for the work I do.

[George Yetka]

Glenn
Dont they come with that tool? I wasnt able to figure out how to use it, I just use my fingers

[Keegan Shields]

I have a 25-50 which I bought used and it has been excellent. SuperMax tech support was very knowledgeable and helpful when I needed help returning the pressure rollers to factory spec.

Lots of uses - I used to think my planer was a precision thicknesser, until I ran it through my drum sander for the first time.

[glenn bradley]

Glenn, Thanks for the thorough review, and I do like your cabinet! Just to clarify, it sounds like you may have had an older Performax/Jet drum sander in the past....and you believe the new Supermax is indeed better at keeping the sanding head parallel with the conveyor belt? I find myself constantly having to re-adjust my older Jet 16-32.

The following is just my own experience and not intended as a statement on any particular machines from the past.

I do not have previous experience and the reason is the many. many, posts on forums about the evils of drum sanders. :) I had often found myself in situations where "if I just had a drum sander . . ." but was loath to buy into the many reported problems of these machines. I had seen some shop made solutions and even started down that road once upon a time.

Back in 2012 I started to see the 19-38 killing it in the bake-offs. Many issues like drum to table alignment, feed belt tracking, and most importantly paper change problems had been eliminated or minimized. I took the plunge in 2013. Of the many table alignment, feed belt, and paper change issues well reported on the previous generations . . . none presented. After nearly a decade of use I am still very happy with the unit. I will mention that when you finally wear out a feed belt, just bite down hard and buy the OEM belt. Others I tried proved to be ill suited to the task and were a waste of time and money. I use the machine near-daily so I speak from some level of experience. It is not a planer, it is a sander. When used as such it does its job pretty much perfectly.

[Jim Becker]

I bought a (very slightly) used 19-38 a couple of years ago from an estate. It's a nice machine and does what I expect it to do. It does have the pesky clips for the abrasive, but I don't change with any frequency since the machine sees limited use.

[Paul F Franklin]

Glenn
Dont they come with that tool? I wasnt able to figure out how to use it, I just use my fingers

My recently acquired 16-32 came with the tool, and some useful instructions. Took a try or two to figure it out but it really does make working the inboard clamp easier since it both holds the clamp open and secures the sandpaper while you slip the end in place. Happy to send you the instructions if you didn't get any George.

[Jim Becker]

Paul, I wouldn't mind having those instructions as the manual was missing for the unit i mentioned when I bought it.

[Paul F Franklin]

Paul, I wouldn't mind having those instructions as the manual was missing for the unit i mentioned when I bought it.

Here are the Supermax TUF tool instructions, for whatever reason they don't seem to be included in the manuals on the supermax web site: 496040

If the upload isn't readable, PM me and I'll send a proper file.

[George Yetka]

Here are the Supermax TUF tool instructions, for whatever reason they don't seem to be included in the manuals on the supermax web site: 496040

If the upload isn't readable, PM me and I'll send a proper file.

Thank you. I like to suffer longer than needed, but the finger method does kind of work. I probably should have looked this up sooner

[Russell Hayes]

I don't understand all the problems folks have with the inboard clip. The tuff tool works great used properly. It hooks the clip and then slides up on the drum over the paper and sits there by itself - hands free - as long as you need it to. Then insert the paper end (best to take the curl out of the paper first it needs to go straight in). Release the tuff tool - done. Start the drum and let it run a few seconds to make sure paper stays tight. Start sanding.

[Michael Burnside]

Mine was bent when I took delivery. It wouldn't sit by itself and would twist off. Bending the hook at the end back inline it now works fine. Personally I don't find the finger method any more difficult on used paper since the end is curled already. It does help with new paper.

[Izzy Charo]

I'm surprised. In addition to the pesky clip on the inboard side, which I can manage (though with some difficulty) the other issue I have is getting the paper rolled on tightly. I suspect there are some tricks to do this that have thus far eluded me. I did try immobilizing the drum, after loading the paper, as I try to tighten it towards the motor side clip, and that helped a little....but after sanding a few pieces (very lightly) the paper began to overlap and burn...again!

[glenn bradley]

Glenn
Dont they come with that tool? I wasnt able to figure out how to use it, I just use my fingers

Mine did not come with the tool. When my arthritis wasn't so bad I just used my fingers as well. A couple of years ago I looked into the tool. They are available from $15 to $25 from Jet suppliers with a nice rubber dipped handle. I just took pics from various angles on the web and bent my own out of 1/8" rod. It is actually pretty clever. It holds the clip open and retains the abrasive so you have both hands free to insert the abrasive into the right hand side of the drum. Certainly a better clip design would simply solve this. I imagine the usefulness of this gizmo will vary with your hand size and finger strength. Father time . . . you are an evil taskmaster.

[Keegan Shields]

Wow I had no idea my drum sander came with this! My fingers have worked ok, but that looks handy.

[Rod Wolfy]

Ok, I've never heard of a "Tough Tool". I bought my 19-38 a couple years ago off CL. I just wasted a roll of 40 grit. When it came off the drum & started "thwap" sanding the inside of the housing, as the right side didn't clamp.

Does it help with the double finger/trying to clamp dance? It wasn't in the manualor the product diagrams I got, either...

[glenn bradley]

Sorry for the confusion guys. This is a Jet product that helps with the Performax clip horrible-ness. Forgive me if I crucify the history . . . Jet bought the rights to make certain sanders of some sizes and formats, blah, blah, blah. The originators spun off and did the Supermax thing for other sizes and formats. The sanders are very similar, have common DNA with the Supermax continuing to evolve/improve and eventually being bought by Laguna. The Performax just sort of . . . continued. The tool is not required for the Supermax. It just makes things even easier; especially for those with large hands (or with arthritis like me :)). I probably got most of that wrong and if so I apologize. The point is that an easily bent piece of 1/8" cold roll can make changing abrasives even easier than it already is.

[Mike Henderson]

I had a 16-32 and now have the 25-50. I've never had a problem with the sandpaper. The spring clip is straightforward and not very difficult to use with nothing but my fingers.

Mike

[Izzy Charo]

First, thanks for all of the responses from folks who have this machine. Very helpful. I've spent more time with my 16-32 and finally have it working well (at least for today!)...and I thought I would share a bit of my experience for the possible benefit of others who might be struggling with the machine. My biggest issue was that the drum would not stay parallel to the conveyor belt...I could get it parallel, but then any finally tightening on the 4 locking bolts moved it out a bit, and it became a guessing game... At least on my machine, there is enough play in the adjusting knob, even after tightening the 4 locking bolts, that what finally worked was to tighten those 4 bolts down, and then do final adjustments. Not at all what the manual says to do.

[Russell Hayes]

I also make my own Tuff tool. I use shelf clips like the ones that fit into peg board. I've made 3 of them for 22-44 and a 37x2 Performax sanders I've owned. It's hard to get it just right. About 50% reject. But when you get the right bend it sits there holding everything for you.

[Zachary Hoyt]

On my 19-38 I have had no problem using just my fingers to change abrasives, after the first couple of times. At first it was a bit confusing keeping the roll tight on the drum and opening the clip and poking the end in all with just two hands, but now it's effortless. I'll have to pay attention next time I do it and see what my fingers are doing. Or maybe I shouldn't try to watch. I don't want to be like the centipede who could no longer walk after someone asked him which leg he stepped with first when starting to move.